5.6 Subjects with کو
Instructor Video: Subjects with کو
In Urdu, subjects can have a nominative case like English. Additionally, Urdu subjects can also come with dative and ergative cases. Here, we are going to learn subjects with dative case. We use dative case when the subject is not the doer of an action, but an experiencer and/or a beneficiary of an action. Dative case in Hindi is marked with کو “ko” .
There are a few verbs that require a dative subject with کو marking. In this chapter, we are going to learn only three in detail, and I will mention a few others here too. But, you will encounter more verbs, adjectives, and nouns that require subjects with کو as you progress further in your Urdu language learning journey. As the subject is marked with dative case کو , the verb agrees with the object of that sentence.
| Verbs that Require Dative Subject with کو | |
|---|---|
| Urdu |
English |
| پسند | like |
| نا پسند | dislike |
| چاہئے | need |
پسند “To Like”
When you like someone or something, you are not doing anything actively, you are merely experiencing something that is pleasing to you. Hence, the verb “to like” needs a subject in dative case with کو marker. When a subject receives a case marker کو which is a post-position, the subject changes into oblique form.
| Examples: | ||
| Explanation | English | Urdu |
| میں with کو becomes مجھے in oblique, and the verb ہے is agreeing with چائے “tea.” Literal translations of this Urdu sentence in English would be “to me, tea is pleasing”. This pattern will follow for the rest of the examples given here. | I like tea. |
مجھے چائے پسند ہے۔ |
| Here, the verb ہیں is agreeing with the plural subject طلباء “students”. | I like my students. |
مجھے اپنے طلباء پسند ہیں۔ |
| Here, the verb ہے agrees with اردو “Urdu”. | Peter likes Urdu. |
پیٹر کو اردو پسند ہے۔ |
| Here, the verb تھے agrees with کھلونے “toys”. | In childhood, My brother liked toys. |
بچپن میں، میرے بھائی کو کھلونے بہت پسند تھے۔ |
نا پسند “To Dislike”
Dislike is similar to like. Hence, the verb “to dislike” needs a subject in the dative case with کو marker. When a subject receives a case marker کو which is a post-position, the subject changes into the oblique form.
| Examples: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Explanation | English | Urdu |
| میں with کو becomes مجھے in oblique, and verb ہے is agreeing with کافی “coffee”. The literal translation of this Urdu sentence in English would be “to me, coffee is displeasing”. This pattern will follow for the rest of the examples given here. | I dislike coffee. |
مجھے کافی نا پسند ہے۔ |
| Here, the verb ہے is agreeing with the plural subject بے ایمان لوگ “dishonest people”. | I dislike dishonest people. |
مجھے بے ایمان لوگ نا پسند ہیں۔ |
| Here, the verb ہے agrees with a verb that acts as a noun (object) دوڑنا “to run”. | Peter dislikes running. |
پیٹر کو دوڑنا نا پسند ہے۔ |
| Here, the verb تھیں agrees with گاڑیاں “cars”. | In childhood, my brother disliked cars. |
بچپن میں میرے بھائی کوگاڑیاں ناپسند تھیں۔ |
Note: پسند نہیں = ناپسند — In Urdu, native speakers tend to use a negative marker نہیں with پسند to express dislike.
For example:
- مجھے کافی پسند نہیں ہے۔ I do not like (dislike) coffee.
- پیٹر کو دوڑنا پسند نہیں کرتا۔ Peter does not like (dislikes) running. etc.
Activity
Please read the following questions carefully. After reading these question, please answer them and then ask these questions to three of your friends/family members and try to find common likes and dislikes.
Chapter 5.6_Activity: Likes and Dislikes
!شکریہ
